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A Kirkby mum-of-three said doctors failed to notice her late husband’s oesophageal cancer until just 11 days before he died.

Paul Walker started complaining of stomach pains in May, and went to Aintree University Hospital where he was told he may have gall stones or pancreatitis.

But with doctors at Aintree hospital unable to get a camera down to inspect his throat and stomach, Paul was sent away and told to return as an outpatient in a few weeks.

Suffering from agonising pain, Paul and his wife Sarah, both 32, knew something was wrong when they failed to get a camera down his throat during a second and third visit to A&E.

But after being told to return for a specialist “Barium Meal” xray, things took a tragic turn for the worst.

Sarah, who married Paul just days before he died on June 30 said: “Around June 17 he had a really bad night. He came downstairs and I went to look for him and found him in the back garden and he looked awful.

“I said to call an ambulance, he said no because he said he was frightened. He was lying on the couch and he said ‘I am dying’.”

Paul with his children (L-R) Lennon, Sadie and Wade.

Paul was rushed to hospital and after having a CT scan, him and Sarah were given the news that Paul had oesophageal cancer and could have only weeks or even days to live.

Sarah said: “We just couldn’t get our heads around it, and it was Father’s Day the following Sunday and the nurses asked if we wanted to go home and spend it as a family.”

Desperate to make memories in the last remaining days as a family, Sarah brought Paul home to spend the day with his three children, Wade, 14, Lennon, 9 and Sadie, who turned one just four days after her father died.

The family were told Paul’s cancer had taken over his oesophagus, and with just days to live, the couple decided to confirm their love for another and get married at the hospital.

Sarah said: “In my head I knew time was slipping away and I wanted to make memories for the kids. And the staff were amazing, they got a cake sorted and even said they would get a dress for me, but that wasn’t important to me and I actually got married in a pair of Nike flip flops.

Sarah and Paul Walker married in Aintree Hospital after doctors told them Paul had oesophageal cancer just 11 days before he died

“While we were in that room everything was normal and the nurses and everyone left us alone for our wedding night. Even though Paul was in the bed and I was on the floor, it was lovely because it was just the two of us.”

The day after their wedding, Paul was taken to the Woodlands Hospice, and passed away with his family at his side two days later.

Paul’s son Lennon said: “I miss my dad very much but I know he’s in heaven out of pain” and Wade, 14, described Paul as “the best Dad ever.”

Sarah added: “It was so peaceful and we were all with him, but I still don’t understand how life can change so much in 11 days. I felt I was standing back and reading a magazine about somebody else’s life. Even now I still can’t believe it.

“The hospital said even if they had spotted it weeks before, it wouldn’t have saved Paul’s life, but it would have allowed us to start making memories much sooner. And I was telling them something was really wrong when they couldn’t get the camera down.”

A spokesperson for Aintree University Hospital said: “We would like to express our sincere condolences to Mr Walker’s family. One of our senior doctors has previously offered to meet with the family to answer any questions about his care and we would be happy to take this forward.”

Sarah is not happy that the condition was not picked up despite three previous visits to Aintree Hospital